1. Introduction
We encounter the term Gothic in a lot of domains. In history, the term is to be found referring to the East Germanic tribe called the Goths and in linguistics referring to their extinct language. It also relates to Gothic architecture, prevalent in Western Europe in the 12th to 16th century and its revival from the mid-18th to early 20th century, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses, large windows and elaborate tracery. It is also used as a reference to the gloomy and horrifying Dark Ages. Today we have a subculture which refers to oneself as Goths and their style as Gothic. In literature Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto from 1764 is assigned as the origin of Gothic in literature. From this time on, Gothic features can be found in many novels by different authors from continental Europe. It continued throughout different literary periods, be it Romanticism or the Victorian Age, and its elements and figures were used in novels, drama, poetry and short stories. Therefore, it is no wonder that its presence continued in the new media of the twentieth century like radio, television and movies. There are movie adaptations of Gothic writings as well as movies influenced by the Gothic and making use of its features.
The cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show offers grotesque characters: the straps and makeup wearing Dr. Frank N. Furter, a ‘sweet transvestite’, his sun-tanned, flaxen-haired muscular creation Rocky, wearing golden underpants. A sinister and humped servant called Riff Raff and all the strange-looking people doing the ‘Time Warp’. This and an innocent couple’s strange adventure in an old and isolated mansion which is the home of the mysterious Dr. Frank N. Furter, tempt the spectator to see a Gothic influence in this musical movie adaptation. Consequently the question arises: Is it there, the Gothic?
Andrew Smith, at least, included The Rocky Horror Picture Show in his list of Gothic texts in Gothic Literature but does not justify it. And Jeffrey Cox asserts in English Gothic Theatre that scholars have identified Gothic elements in the movie, but he as well provides no proof nor even names some of these scholars. As studies about Gothic elements in The Rocky Horror Picture Show are missing it would be an interesting undertaking to proof these statements. The aim of this paper is therefore to find out if the Gothic is actually present in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Gothic elements
- 2.1 Gothic setting
- 2.2 "Over at the Frankenstein Place" - The scientist and his monster
- 2.3 The fainting heroine and the femme fatale
- 2.4 Vampirism
- 3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show - A Gothic movie?
- 3.1 The genre issue
- 3.2 Realization of the elements
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Bibliography
- 5.1 Primary source
- 5.2 Secondary sources
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to determine the presence of Gothic elements in the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This involves analyzing the film's setting and characters to identify potential influences from key Gothic writings and allusions to their figures and characters. A subsequent discussion of the Gothic genre will help to determine whether the film can be classified as a Gothic movie.
- Gothic setting and atmosphere
- Character archetypes in relation to Gothic literature
- The genre of Gothic fiction and its application to film
- Analysis of specific Gothic elements within the film
- Determining the film's classification as a Gothic work
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the multifaceted use of the term "Gothic," ranging from historical and linguistic contexts to architectural style and modern subculture. It establishes the historical presence of Gothic themes in literature and their transition to 20th-century media, specifically film. The chapter introduces The Rocky Horror Picture Show and questions whether its seemingly Gothic elements warrant its classification as a Gothic film. It highlights the lack of existing scholarly analysis on this topic and states the paper's aim to investigate this gap, analyzing the film's setting and characters for Gothic influences and ultimately addressing whether The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be legitimately considered a Gothic film.
2. Gothic elements: This chapter delves into the various Gothic elements present in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It starts by analyzing the film's setting, highlighting the use of darkness, storms, a remote location (a mansion), and the overall atmosphere of isolation and suspense. The chapter draws parallels between these settings and similar elements frequently found in classic Gothic literature, citing examples from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Ann Radcliffe, and Bram Stoker. The use of familiar Gothic tropes—a journey into the unknown, a breakdown in a remote location, the arrival at an imposing mansion—is meticulously analyzed to demonstrate the film's deliberate employment of established Gothic conventions. The chapter sets the stage for further analysis of character archetypes in subsequent sections.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Gothic Elements in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*
What is the main objective of this paper?
The paper aims to determine whether the cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show contains Gothic elements and can be classified as a Gothic film. This involves analyzing the film's setting, characters, and comparing them to key Gothic writings and figures.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the analysis of Gothic settings and atmosphere in the film, character archetypes in relation to Gothic literature, the genre of Gothic fiction and its application to film, specific Gothic elements within the film, and ultimately, determining the film's classification as a Gothic work.
What topics are covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction explores the multifaceted understanding of "Gothic," from its historical and linguistic contexts to architecture and modern subculture. It traces the presence of Gothic themes in literature and their transition to 20th-century film, introducing The Rocky Horror Picture Show and questioning its potential Gothic classification. It also highlights the lack of scholarly analysis on this topic and states the paper's aim to fill this gap.
What does the chapter on "Gothic elements" cover?
This chapter analyzes the Gothic elements in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, focusing on the film's setting (darkness, storms, remote location, atmosphere of isolation and suspense) and drawing parallels with classic Gothic literature (authors like Poe, Radcliffe, and Stoker). It examines the use of familiar Gothic tropes such as a journey into the unknown and arrival at an imposing mansion to demonstrate the film's use of Gothic conventions and sets the stage for further character archetype analysis.
What other Gothic elements are discussed in the paper?
Beyond setting, the paper delves into character archetypes, specifically examining figures that may align with the "fainting heroine," the "femme fatale," and the scientist and his monster, comparing them to classic Gothic literature examples.
How is *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* analyzed in relation to the Gothic genre?
The paper examines whether the film's characteristics align with the established conventions of the Gothic genre. This includes a discussion of the genre itself and how its elements manifest in film adaptations.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes sections on the Introduction, Gothic elements (with subsections on setting, characters, and vampirism), The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a potential Gothic film (including genre issues and realization of elements), the Conclusion, and the Bibliography (with primary and secondary sources).
What is the overall conclusion of the paper?
(The provided text does not explicitly state the conclusion. The conclusion would summarize the findings regarding the presence of Gothic elements and whether The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be legitimately classified as a Gothic film).
What sources are cited in the bibliography?
The bibliography includes both primary sources (likely the film itself) and secondary sources (academic works and potentially other relevant texts on Gothic literature and film).
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2013, The Gothic in the movie "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215534
